How to Start Studying Law In India: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

The experience of analyzing laws is special and intellectually stimulating, influencing how you think about things, arguments, and worldviews. You are introduced to a new language, including legal terms, case laws, and statutes that may initially seem overwhelming. The workload is heavy and intense; hours are spent writing research papers, reading prolonged judgments, and preparing for hearings and moots. But as time goes on, students start to recognize the analytical depth and logical thinking and reasoning required by the discipline. Whether it's criminal law or constitutional regulation, each subject makes you reevaluate your assumptions and teaches you the way to think like a legal professional or lawyer.

Developing a perspective is more important in law school than simply learning sections and acts by heart. You start to doubt everything, including decisions, rules, and even your own beliefs. Your ability to analyze critically and argue persuasively is improved by this continuous mental activity. You are forced to speak effectively and eloquently as group discussions, debates, and moot courts become a regular part of your life. In addition to developing dynamic and intellectually stimulating surroundings in which students examine as lots from their peers as from professors, competition may be intense, especially in prestigious institutions.

Being a law student has many benefits, despite the pressure. Understanding justice and having the ability to enforce it offers one a sense of purpose. You start to recognize how what you're reading has realistic programs even as you're doing research for a case, running as a court intern, or attending a criminal useful resource camp. The pleasure of fixing a tough case short, the delight of putting up a moot argument, or friendships made throughout overdue time take a look at periods all contribute to the exciting journey. Being a law student is undoubtedly tough, but for those who are driven, it can be an existence-changing and inspiring experience.

Step 1: Understanding legal education in India

India's legal education system is designed to give pupils an understanding of the country's laws, legal structures, and judicial processes. It provides two primary routes: a 3-year LLB program following graduation in any stream and a 5-year integrated program following Class 12 (e.g., BA LLB, BBA LLB). The Bar Council of India (BCI), which oversees professional standards and legal education, accepts both pathways.

In India, law enthusiasts can choose whatever specialization they are interested in, also, they need to find a reputed university that can teach them in such a way that they get practice experience side-by-side. Various specializations are available in India Including Business laws, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights, IPR & Tech Law, Family Law, Corporate Law, and more. Along with the studies, students can get real-world experience in the legal field by working under a lawyer in the Court of Law, even before getting certified by the BCI.

Step 2: Choose the right stream for the 12th class

For individuals who want to work in law after Class 10, selecting the right stream is an essential first step.  Even while Indian law schools accept students from a wide range of academic fields, such as science, commerce, and the arts, a strong foundation can be built by choosing courses that enhance analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills.  The Arts/Humanities stream is often visible as the best preference because it consists of topics like political science, history, sociology, and English—all of which have a direct connection to law and governance.

However, students in the Commerce stream also gain, especially if they plan to pursue a career in corporate or commercial law.  Understanding corporate law, financial legislation, and economic policy can be facilitated by taking courses in accounting, economics, and business studies.  Similarly, science stream students can excel in areas such as intellectual property law, environmental law, or technology law, although they may require more autonomous exposure to social and political issues.

In the end, there is no predetermined route required to study law because admission exams such as CLAT assess reasoning, legal aptitude, and language skills rather than specific academic courses.  The key is to choose a stream that emphasizes the growth of your writing, reading, critical thinking, and logical reasoning skills while contributing to your interests and capabilities.

Step 3: Apply for entrance exams

Depending on the university they wish to attend, students who wish to study law in India must pass admission exams like the CLAT, AILET, LSAT India, or SLAT.  These assessments measure knowledge of current affairs, English, logical reasoning, legal reasoning, and quantitative methodologies.

Early preparation—ideally through self-study or coaching sessions—is essential, ideally in Class 11 or 12.  Keeping up with current affairs, practicing often, and taking mock tests can all significantly improve performance and help get into prominent law schools.

Let’s get some knowledge on the entrance exams to take admission in the respective programs (LLB or LLM)

CLAT

This exam is applicable for students who wish to pursue a 5-year integrated LLB course or 1-year LLM course:

Section	Description
Name of Exam	Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
Conducting Body	Consortium of National Law Universities
Total Questions	150
Duration of the Exam	2 hours
Question Type	Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Marking Scheme	1 mark for each correct answer
Negative Marking	0.25 marks were deducted for every wrong answer

LSAT India

This exam’s scorecard applies to both undergraduates and postgraduates.

Section	Description
Name of Exam	Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Conducting Body	Pearson VUE on behalf of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
Exam Mode	Computer-based proctored online exam
Total Questions	92
Duration of the Exam	2 hours and 20 minutes
Question Type	Multiple Choice Questions
Marking Scheme	On a scale of 420-480 score band and percentile
Negative Marking	No negative marking

AILET

Candidates for both UG and PG courses can apply for this exam. Below are a few of the details about the program.

Section	Description
Name of Exam	All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
Conducting Body	National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi)
Total Questions	150
Duration of the Exam	120 minutes
Question Type	Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Marking Scheme	1 mark for each correct answer
Negative Marking	0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer

Step 4: Choose the right college for you

Choosing the right law school is crucial for the formation of your legal profession.  Consider factors including the college's standing, amenities, placement record, faculty background, and specializations offered.  National Law Universities (NLUs), Delhi University, Jindal Global Law School, and Symbiosis Law School are some of the top choices in India.

Examine the college's internship program, legal aid programs, alumni network, and moot court exposure as well.  Excellent opportunities for practical training and a friendly environment can significantly enhance your educational experience and legal career prospects.

Undergraduate Program

Following completion of Class 12, undergraduate law degrees in India are usually provided as five-year integrated curricula, such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, or BSc LLB. These courses give college students a solid foundation in both general education and fundamental legal topics. Internships, moot courts, and felony studies provide students with real-world experience that allows them to get ready for jobs in the criminal subject, business, or in addition schooling like an LLM or judicial examination. Let’s check what syllabus, students get to learn while they are pursuing their Undergraduate studies:

Syllabus for 3-year LLB program
Semester I	Semester II
Family Law I Law of Crimes Law of Contract I Constitutional Law I Women and Law (Elective) Criminology and Penology (Elective) RTI and PIL (Elective)	Family Law II Law of Contract I| Constitutional Law II Professional Ethics, Bar Bench Relations, and Accountancy for Lawyers Law and Media (Elective) Election Law (Elective) Healthcare Law (Elective)
Semester III	Semester IV
Law of Evidence Arbitration, Conciliation, and Alternate Dispute Resolution System Legal Language Comparative Laws (Elective) Human Rights and International Law Conflict Laws (Elective) Comparative Laws (Elective)	Jurisprudence Taxation Law Tort and Consumer Protection Act, Motor Vehicle Act Drafting, Pleading, and Conveyancing Interpretation of Statutes Administrative Law Company Law
Semester V	Semester VI
Code of Criminal Procedure Limitation Act Banking Laws Property Laws Banking Laws IPR	Environmental Law Code of Criminal Procedure, Juvenile Justice Act, and Probation Offenders Act Practical Training and Moot Courts Land Laws Labor Laws

Postgraduate program

Postgraduate law programs offer specialized legal study beyond the undergraduate level; the Master of Laws (LLM) is the most often awarded degree. Students can pay attention to topics that include company law, International Law, human rights, intellectual property law, and constitutional law in LLM programs, which normally take one to two years. Admission is typically determined by entrance tests such as CLAT-PG or merit.

For those who want to pursue further in their legal studies, search for better training, or enhance their chance to get better in a specialized law field, those programs are perfect. Additionally, a postgraduate program is probably a starting point for a doctoral program consisting of a Ph.D. or DBA In Law, judicial offerings, or research opportunities. Let’s check out, what are the basic subjects that are taught to law students in postgraduate programs.

Syllabus for LLM degree
Legal research methodology: Legal research & writing The legal system: Foundations, institutes & Processes Statutory Law & Interpretation Cases & Precedents Judicial Public Policy Making: Common Law & Judicial Activism Research in a law Firm; Due Diligence, Memos & Advice	Law and Justice in the Globalizing World: Globalization and its Effects on the Development of International Commercial & Economic Law Challenges of Globalization to Law & Justice Formulation to Law & Justice Formulation & settlement of transportation norms & practices. Individual rights vis-a-vis Free market principles & state capitalism
Comparative public law: Public and private law in practice  Building an imagination sound comparative, constitutional, and public law The unique position of international investments within public law and the legal principles governing it How domestic law responds to foreign investments and the significance of capital flow for development Investment contract regime and general threats to investments	Dissertation

LLM specializations

LLM specializations	Core subjects
Business laws	Law and Social Transformation in India Judicial Process Indian Constitutional Law: The New Challenges Law of Industrial and Intellectual Property Legal education and research Methodology International Trade Law Environmental Law Legal Regulations of Economic Enterprises  Business Laws Law Relating to Regulatory Authorities Insurance Law Alternative Dispute Resolution & Securities Law
Constitutional Law	Administrative Process and Judicial Control Law and Social Transformation in India Administrative Law Constitutionalism: Pluralism & Federalism Human Rights Indian Constitutional Law: The New Challenges Research Methodology National Securit, Public Order, and Rule of Law Mass Media Law  Judicial Process
Criminal Law	Research Methodology Legal Concepts Theories of Law Banking Law Legislative Process Corporate Jurisprudence Law of Intellectual Property Life and Fire Insurance Consumer Law Judicial Process Competition Law
Human Rights	Concepts of Human Rights Concept & Classification of Rights Concept of Human Duties Dialectics of Human Rights Human Duties, Responsibilities & its Effectuation Human Rights & Criminal Justice Emerging Concepts of Human Writes International Obligations Jurisprudence & Human Rights: Lego Philosophical perspectives Refugee Law Constitutional Governance of Human Rights in India People’s Rights to Self-determination Human Rights and International & Regional Perspectives: Implementation Mechanism International Humanitarian Law
IPR & Tech Law	Advanced IPR and IT Law Intellectual Property and New Technology, AI Legal Research Methodology Comparative Public Law Music and Copyrights TRIPS and Public Health GDPR: A European Example of Data Protection Law International Investment Law and Intelectual Property
Family Law	Family Law I - System Scope Sources and Schools Family Law II - Marriage and Matrimonial Remedies Family Law III - Nuclear and Extended Family Family Law IV - Penal Laws on Family Affairs Family Law V - Family Property and Succession  Foreign Business languages Comparative Public Law Legal English and Research Methodology Law and Justice in the Globalizing World

Being a law student in India, people see you as the future of Justice. Various universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Some of the reputed universities are listed below. 

A list of universities offering LLM programs in India:

Universities offering LLM programs in regular mode
National Law School	Aligarh Muslim University
Faculty Of Law	Chaudhary Charan Singh University
University of Delhi	UPES
Amity University	Lovely Professional University
NLU	BHU

Universities offering LLM programs for working professionals

Universities offering LLM programs for working professionals
Kurukshetra Univerity	Jamia Millia Islamia
KUVEMPU University	Jindal Global Law School
Karnataka State Open University	Banaras Hindu University

Top colleges offering a 1-Year LLM program

Top colleges offering a 1-Year LLM program
Colleges	Specializations
Jindal Global Law School (Blended Learning Program)	Corporate & Financial Law AI and Emerging Technologies Intellectual Property & Technology Law Dispute Resolution
National Law University, Delhi	Criminal Law Banking and Finance Studies Intellectual Property Law Commercial Law Environmental Law and Justice Consumer Law Health Law and Policy Taxation Law
Lovely Professional University	Business Law  Constitutional Law Criminal Law Intellectual Property Law International Law
Symbiosis Law School International, Pune	Business and Corporate Law  Constitutional Law and Administrative Law  Innovation, Technology, and Intellectual Property Law Criminal Law and Security Law  Human Rights Law Law, Policy, and Good Governance Family Law EU Law and International Law Telecommunication, Media, and Technology Law  Climate Change Law and Policy* (Approval in process)
NLU, Kolkata	Corporate and Commercial Law International Law & Comparative Law Criminal and Security Law  Intellectual Property Law Law and Technology
UPES	Corporate and Commercial Law Alternate Dispute Resolution Intellectual Property Rights Environmental and Energy Law Cyber Security and Digital Law

Doctorate in Law

In a doctorate program, you get two options: DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) and PhD. you can choose either of them based on your future goals. Let’s keep it short, if you wish to go ahead in academics and the court then you should choose a PhD program, and if you wish to go into the corporate sector, you should choose a DBA program. 

Let’s learn more about both of the programs:

• PhD in Law: Making original contributions to legal knowledge through research is the aim of a Ph.D. in law.  It is suitable for those who wish to pursue careers in advanced legal research, academia, or policy.  Candidates may work as university professors, think tanks, or international legal organizations in addition to preparing a thesis and conducting extensive research.
• DBA in law: With an emphasis on the real-world applications of legal knowledge in corporate governance, compliance, and strategy, a DBA in Law merges legal studies with business leadership.  It concentrates on applying practical research to solve real-world business-legal challenges, making it ideal for industry executives rather than academic jobs. It works better for people in senior positions.

Syllabus for PhD or DBA in Law
Semester I	Semester II
Human Rights Law International Business Public Law	Foundation of Business Law Civil Rights Law Research Methodology
Semester III	Semester IV
Global Business Environments Law and Courts	Judicial Process Law and society in Historical perspective
Semester V	Semester VI
Antitrust Policies	Industrial Organization Project Work

Step 5: Enroll with the Bar Council of India

To practice law in India, a prospective lawyer must register with the Bar Council of India (BCI) after earning a law degree from an accredited Indian institution. A candidate must legally register as an advocate through this enrolment procedure to represent clients in court and participate in legal proceedings. Under the direction of the BCI, the State Bar Councils oversee the procedure under the Advocates Act of 1961.

Initially, the graduate must look for enrollment in the State Bar Council where they wish to practice. The application often includes documents such as degree certificates, mark sheets, proof of age, evidence of domicile, passport-sized pictures, and an affidavit attesting to the applicant with a clean history. After applying, the State Bar Council's Enrolment Committee verifies the application and temporarily registers them as an advocate.

A candidate is eligible to sit for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), which is given with the resource of the Bar Council of India, after registering with the State Bar Council, completely. The AIBE is an open-ebook examination designed to assess an attorney's potential to practice law correctly. It evaluates understanding of topics such as criminal law, civil process, evidentiary law, professional ethics, and constitutional law. The lawyer is granted or provided with a "Certificate of Practice" after passing the AIBE, which enables them to practice in any Indian court of law.

It is important to keep in mind that an advocate must pass the AIBE to appear in court or provide legal advice, even if they have a law degree.  Until the AIBE is cleared, which must occur within two years after enrollment, the individual can work under a senior advocate but cannot handle cases alone.

Step 6: Understand different career options after completing law school

Law faculty graduates can pick out from a wide sort of careers in several industries.  These opportunities consist of litigation, business roles, public services, research, policymaking, and more. The legal company presents a variety of well-established and expanding employment possibilities that people may combine with their interests, skills, and work goals.

After completing a law degree, candidates may have multiple options to choose from. Some candidates may have chosen their path before enrolling in a law program, let’s see what their dreams can choose to become

Opportunities for Law Graduates
Lawyer	Junior advocate
Corporate counsellor	Journalist
Judiciary	Legal advisor
Patent analyst	Legal researcher
Legal Analyst	Bar council executive
Assistant professor	Legal consultant
Legal writer	Notary officer
Legal officer	Law assistant
Trade Commission head	Legal document reviewer

OP Jindal Global Law School

Jindal Global Law School offers 1-year LLM program in a blended learning mode. They offer a hybrid mode of law education which attracts students. Let’s learn about the specializations offered and the syllabus offered at the institution.

Specialization offered:

• Corporate & Financial Law Online
• AI and Emerging Technologies Online
• Intellectual Property & Technology Law Online
• Dispute Resolution Online
• Taxation Law, Policy and Regulation

Syllabus at Jindal Global Law School (Blended Learning Program)
Specializations	Syllabus/Subjects
Corporate & Financial Law	Legal Research Methodology Law and Justice in a Globalizing World Comparative Public Law Advanced Company Law A Practitioner’s Approach to Competition Law in India Commercial Contract Drafting M&A and Private Equity Corporate Insolvency Law Dissertation
AI and Emerging Technologies	Legal Research Methodology Law and Justice in a Globalizing World Comparative Public Law Advanced IPR and IT Law Intellectual Property and New Technology, AI GDPR: A European Example of Data Protection Law, AI Introduction to GDPR Regulating AI Ethica, Law, and AI Comparative AI Regulation Dissertation
Intellectual Property & Technology Law	Legal Research Methodology Law and Justice in a Globalizing World Comparative Public Law Advanced IPR and IT Law Intellectual Property and New Technology, AI Music and Copyrights TRIPS and Public Health GDPR: A European Example of Data Protection Law
Dispute Resolution	Legal Research Methodology Law and Justice in a Globalizing World Comparative Public Law International Commercial Arbitration Principles and Practice of Arbitration in India Investment Arbitration Negotiation and Meditation Recognition, Enforcement, and Execution of Arbitral Awards Ethical Issues in Alternative Dispute Resolution Dissertation
Taxation Law, Policy and Regulation	Structure and implementation of GST Registration, compliance, valuation, and input credit mechanisms Audit and appeals processes under indirect tax laws Legal and procedural aspects of Customs regulations Import-export duties and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Enforcement mechanisms and recent legal developments Use of technology in tax administration - theory and practical insights

Conclusion

This blog was all about how to start studying law from choosing the best stream in the 12th class to choosing the best career after completing their degree and enrolling to get the certificate to practice in the court. This blog was to let you know the framework of choosing your path to your destiny by completing all the milestones.